Coin controlled vending mechanism utilizing a plurality of coins of different denominations



K. KNICKERBOCKER Sept. 2, 1969 3,464,530 com CONTROLLED vmwmc MECHANISM UTILIZING A PLURALITY 0F coms OF'DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS s Sheets-Sheet i Filed Nov. 14, 1967 KARL KNICKERBOCKER S p 96 K. KNICKERBOCKER 3,464,530

' COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MECHANISM UTILIZING A PLURALITY OF COINS OF DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS Filed Nov. 14. 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR KARL KNICKERBOCKER Sept. 2, 1969 K. KNICKERBOCKER 3,464,530

- COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MECHANISM UTILIZING A PLURALITY OF COINS OF DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 14, 1967 INVENTOR KARL KNICKERBOCKER Sept. 2, 1969 K. KNICKERBOCKER 3,464,530

COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MECHANISM UTILIZING A PLURALITY OF COINS OF DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS F1155 Nov. 14, 1967 s Sheets-Sheet 4 I III! III! IIIIIIIIIII) I INVENT OR KARL KNICKERBOCKER Sept. 2, 1969 K. KNICKERBOCKER 3,

COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MECHANISM UTILIZING A PLURALITY OF COINS OF DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS Filed Nov. 14, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR KARL KNICKERBOCKER S p 96 K. KNICKERBOCKER 3,464,530

COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MECHANISM UTILIZING A PLURALITY OF--COINS OF DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS Filed Nov. 14, 1967 I 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 1 l l /CO|N INSERT SLOT i IO 25 I DAILY SUNDAY USE NlCKEr S DlMES-QUART S COIN RlfiTURN I5 RETURNED m gpcoms v" l8 24 I '1] II A (Ill/ll Ill iNVENTOR KARL KNICKEBOCKER United States Patent 3,464,530 COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MECHANISM UTILIZING A PLURALITY OF COINS OF DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS Karl Knickerbocker, 400 Baycrest Drive, Venice, Fla. 33595 Filed Nov. 14, 1967, Ser. No. 682,911 Int. Cl. G07f /06 US. Cl. 194-71 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A vending apparatus which operates on the combined total diameter of coins and uniquely utilizes only one coin stacking channel for all coins, said channel having channel width adapters to avoid shingling of the thinner coins. An array of coin restrainers mounted on one bar permits easy presetting of coin totals to accommodate the periodic changing of the vending price, such as with the sale of daily and Sunday newspapers. There is also a channel opening structure which, when activated, completely opens to release all coins, whether bent, stuck or otherwise, to the coin return slot. And there is also structural provision for preventing accidental or intentional combinations of coins which, though totaling differently in value have approximately equal combined diameters.

This invention relates to a coin operated vending apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus which, when activated by the insertion of coins totaling a preset value, is made operable, such as in a newspaper vending apparatus to allow the access door to the newspaper to be opened.

Many coin operated vending machines are presently in operation. In general, these machines may be classified into two categories; the electrically operated type and the mechanically operated type. It is with this second category that this invention is concerned.

In this category, various approaches have been taken. Usually the mechanism is designed to operate on weight or size of the coin or coins. Again it is with the latter that this invention is concerned.

In apparatus operated based on size of a coin, such as seen in US. Patent 3,265,177, it is frequently neces sary to total the value of two or more coins. Where two or more coins are required, the apparatus may measure the total thickness or the total diameter of the coins. The latter is the more reliable because of the larger dimension. Applying this principle to the sale of newspapers, daily editions may sell for 10 cents which may comprise one dime or two nickels. The Sunday editions will usually sell for twice the daily price or cents which may comprise two dimes, a dime and two nickels, or four nickels. If only one coin chute is utilized, operation of the apparatus is somewhat less than completely reliable. One of the most common causes of such unreliability has been what is referred to in the trade as shingling wherein two or more coins, such as the dimes, will become wedged against each other due to overlapping of their edges because of the chute width which must be wide enough to accommodate the nickels as well.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel coin operated vending apparatus.

Another object is to provide vending apparatus, of the above character, which eliminates the possibility of shingling, even though a single coin chute is used for a variety of coins.

Still another object is to provide apparatus of the above character which can be operated with various combinations of several denominations of coins provided the combination has a total monetary value equal to the preset sale price on the machine.

A further object is to provide apparatus of the above character wherein the preset sale price may be readily changed to a different sale price.

A still further object is to provide apparatus of the above character which is equipped with a coin return mechanism whereby improper coin combinations, bent coins, or slugs may be returned.

Another object is to provide apparatus of the above character in which the coin return mechanism and the vending door may not be operated simultaneously.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

In its most rudimentary form the invention comprises a coin operated vending apparatus in which coins are received through a slot on the face of the apparatus, fall through a bimodal chute into a vertical stacking channel. One wall of the channel contains a plurality of independent channel width adapters, each pivotable about a mounting pin and biased, such as by counter weighting to cause portions of the channel to adapt to the width of any coin therein. Extending into the stacking channel are a pluralty of coin restrainers, which are preset to engage the topmost coin of proper coin stacks. The coins, stacked in such a fashion, rest on a vending door latch. If the coins are of the proper stack, as determined by their combined diameters, one of the restrainers prevents upward movement of the stack, to cause the vending door latch to be depressed. When the latch is so depressed, it comes free of a door retainer mechanism allowing the vending door to be opened. The coins then roll off the end of the latch into a coin storage container.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be expemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear view of the coin handling portion of the apparatus of this invention in its normal operative position.

FIG. 2 is a left side view of the lower portion of the apparatus with the channel width adapters removed, for the sake of clarity.

FIG. 3 is a left rear view of the same portion.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the apparatus showing a coin in the stacking channel.

FIG. 5 is a left side view showing the paths of a dime and a quarter through the bimodal chute and the stacking channel.

FIG. 6 is a vertical right side view.

FIG. 7 is a rear cross sectional view of the stacking channel width adapters illustrating the interaction of the channel and the action of the coin restrainer.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the apparatus showing it in a coin return position, when mounted in the vending machine.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the apparatus showing the channel opened to facilitate coin return.

FIG. 10 is a partial front view of a vending machine.

FIG. 11 is a partial side view of the vending machine showing the relative position of the coin handling portion and the vending portion.

FIG. 12 is a rear view of the coin return knob structure, taken along line 1212 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a top view of the latch of the vending portion of the apparatus of this invention. I

FIG. 13A is a partial side view of FIGURE 13.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

With reference to FIGS. to 13, it is seen that the vending portion of the apparatus comprises an external housing 12 which may constitute a partion of the entire vending machine, such as a newspaper vending machine, a coin insertion slot 1, a vending chamber 14 where the articles being sold are stored, said chamber having a top edge opening door (not shown) to which handle 15 is affixed, a coin receiving bin 16, as Well as a coin return bin 18 (see FIG. 8), and a coin return knob 20. A vending door bin spring 22, about a vending door shaft 24, represents the pivot of the top opening door of the vending chamber. For simplicity, the handle 15 of the door is shown directly pivoted onto shaft 24 but it should be understood that the door of the vending chamber would be interposed between handle 15 and shaft 24, said shaft 24 acting as the hinge pin for the door. A latching mechanism 26, and a spring biased coin return restraining device 28 described in greater detail below, controls the opening and closing of handle 15 and the activation of the coin return mechanism to prevent dual operation of the vending and the coin return mechanism of the apparatus of this invention.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 13 it is seen that latch 30 is pivotally mounted on latch pin 32 extending across latch bracket 33. Bracket 33 is securely fastened to handle 15 of the door to the vending chamber. A spring, (not shown) wound about latch pin 32 biases the free end of latch 30 upward.

As shown, (FIG. 11), handle 15 i pivotally mounted on vending chamber door shaft 24 mounted across the lower outer edge of vending chamber 14. It should again be understood that for simplicity, the handle 15 has been shown pivoted directly to shaft 24. In actual practice however, handle 15 would be secured to the vending chamber door which, in turn, would be pivoted on shaft 24. Spring 22 is concentric with shaft 24 and biases handle 15 into the closed position.

With special reference to FIG. 6, it can be seen that when door 15 is in the closed position, a barb 29 on latch restrainer arm 31 fits through a closed slot (not shown) in latch 30 and thereby prevents door 15 from being fully opened to expose the merchandise being vended.

In a normal vending operation, the latch release mechanism of the coin handling apparatus described hereinafter forces latch 30 down causing it to clear barb 29 and allowing handle 15 to be opened.

Referring now to FIG. 1 the coin handling apparatus is afiixed to housing 12 by positioning pins 35 at the upper end of the apparatus and bolts 36 at the lower end. Ketches 38 at the top outer sides lock the apparatus to the vending machine. It might be noted that it is not necessary to remove bolts 36 to attach or remove the coin handling apparatus. Bolts 36 have small diameter spacer washers under their heads to provide a step for plate 10. Plate 10 is equipped with two notches in its lower edge and may he slid into position with the notches resting on bolts 36. Holes on the upper edge of plate engage pins 35 and the two ketches 38 are pivoted to overlap the corners of plate 10 thereby firmly locking the plate 10 to the vending machine.

With reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, there is seen a horizontal, rearwardly extending, mounting bolt 40'. It extends through bracket 41 and threads into a threaded recess provided in plate 10.

Bracket 41 is integral with coin handling apparatus foundation wall 42. The forward portion of wall 42 has two right angular flanges 43 and 44 to form a T-shape base upon which to mount the various element of the coin handling mechanism.

A second flange 46 is fastened to flange 44 by bolts 45 as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. Extending rearwardly frorn' flange 46 are pivot pins 48 and 49. Two dime and one nickel coin restrainer 50 is pivotally mounted on pin 4 48 while channel width adapters 52 and 53 are both pivotally mounted on pin 49. Coin restrainer 50 and adapters 52 and 53 are all counter weighted to cause a counter clockwise bias of each when viewed from the rear as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

With reference to FIG. 7, it can be seen that fastened to flange 43 is a coin restrainer array support mounting 55; in this instance a nickel and dime array. Pivoted to said mounting via bolts 54 are coin restrainers 57a, b, c, and d each of which is weight balanced in such manner to cause it to rotate clockwise (when viewed as in FIG.7). They are positioned to restrain the stack of coins as follows: 57aone dime, 57b-two nickels, 57c-one dime and three nickels, and 57d-five nickels. The upper and lower extrimity of mounting 55 are bent at right angles and are provided with closed slots to form upper and lower brackets for coin restrainer selector slide 56. Slide 56 has a bent lower extremity and a handle 53 (see FIG. 8) at its upper extremity with two notches 58 and 59 to provide a limit to and a control over its vertical movement. The notches govern the vertical position of the slide 56. Slide 56 is biased by spring 60 to insure engagement of one of the notches 58 or 59. The selector slide is provided with small protrusions 61 (FIGS 1, 7 and 8) which engage any predetermined singular or combination of coin restrainers 57 whereby the coin handling mechanism can be set to totalize various stacks of coins before acting to release the vending door latch, as described hereinafter. In FIG. 7, the lower dime and the 2 nickel coin restrainers (57a and b) are shown as deactivated by slide 56.

Extending rearwardly from plate 10 above bolt 40 is a left upper coin chute wall 62 (see FIGS. 1 and 5). Hinged from wall 62 by shaft 63 is right upper chute wall 64 (see also FIGS. 6 and 8). Wall 64 is biased by spring 65 to cause it to rotate toward wall 62. However, walls 62 and 64 do not contact each other because of two spacer bars (not shown) interposed therebetween. These bars have the width of the largest coin; in US. money, a nickel.

Wall 64 has a forward edge 66 bent at right angles to be substantially parallel with plate 10 as shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 8 for the purpose of receiving linkage 68 whereby wall 64 may be swung away from wall 62 to open the chute.

On examining FIGS 5 and 6, it can be seen that mounted to wall 64 by pivot pins, 69 and 70 are coin traffic seesaw 72 and penny and slug rejector seesaw 74 respectively. Coin trafiic seesaw 72 is provided with two protrusions 75 and 76 which turn in grooves in wall 64. Likewise penny rejector seesaw 74 is also provided with two such protrusions. The space between the protrusions on seesaw 72, as shown, has been designed to be just slightly narrower than the diameter of a nickel. The protrusions of seesaw 74 are just slightly wider than the diameter of a dime. It should now be noted that pins 69 and 70 do not protrude into the gap between walls 62 and 74 and it should now be recalled that the two spacer bars, not shown but mentioned earlier, form a chute from coin insertion slot 11 to selector seesaw 72 and from selector seesaw 72 to rejector seesaw 74.

Positioned below rejector seesaw 74 is a penny or slug deflection surface 77 and a dime receiving channel 78 fastened to wall 42 (see FIG. 5 and especially FIG. 6). The penny rejection mechanism just described prevents accidental or intentional substitution of a penny for a dime for the diameters of both coins are very close and without provision against substitution, the machine would not be capable of detecting the difference.

Directly below selector seesaw 72 is a vertical coin stacking channel 80. As best seen in FIG. 9, the channel comprises foundation wall 42 for one side wall, angular flange 43 for the front wall, a coin guide rail 81 for the rear wall, and a pivotable reinforced channel plate 82. Plate 82 is hinged by vertical coin stacking channel shaft 84 at its rear edge to two horizontal extensions 85 and 86 of foundation wall 42. Spring 87 is concentric with shaft 84 and is arranged to bias channel bracket 82 toward wall 42.

Mounted on channel bracket 82 by horizontal hinge pin 88 is still another coin restrainer 89 (FIG. 6). It is designed in the instance shown, to act as a restrainer for quarters (25). It cams against the upper portion of the rear edge of the quarter. Quarter restrainer 89 is counter weighted so as to cause its lower extremity to swing inward. Channel 80 is provided with a slot 90 positioned so that the lower extremity of quarter restrainer 89 can enter said channel. The upper extremity of quarter restrainer 89 is bent slightly outward away from bracket 82. Directly above the upper extremity of restrainer 89 is a pivotally mounted lock clip 90, said lock clip 90 being mounted on a horizontal pin 91 through bracket 82. The leading edge of lock clip 90 is slightly bent outward, away from bracket 82. In this manner, clip 90 may be rotated downward over the upper extremity of quarter restrainer 89 to cause it to be held away from slot 90 and hence in a disengaged position from any quarter that may be in channel 80 whereby the vending door latch cannot be unlocked.

In further explanation of such action, reference is now made to FIGS. 1 to 6 and 13. It can be seen that latching mechanism 26 which is fastened to the interior surface of housing 12 by bolts, rivets, or any suitable means has a latch restrainer arm 31, an integral part of which is a barb 29. Near the rear edge of arm 31 and mounted perpendicular thereto is a horizontal pivot pin 99 (see FIGS. 1 and 13). Lever arm 92 is pivoted on pin 99 and extends substantially horizontally frontwards from said pin 99. The forward edge of arm 92 presents a cammed surface, not shown, to latch 30. Aflixed to arm 92 near the leading edge is vertical control arm 93. The upper and lower extremities of arm 93 are horizontally to the left and to the right respectively producing control surfaces 95 and 94 as shown in FIGS. 13 and 1 respectively.

The coin return restraining device 28 comprises a horizontal restraining arm 96, seen in FIG. 13 and a vertical U-shaped appendage 97, shown in FIG. 1. Spring 98 is concentric with pin 99 and serves the dual purpose of biasing device 28 forward and arm 92 upward wherein arm 92 is limited in its upward motion by control surface 94 engaging the lower edge of arm 31 (see FIG. 1).

In FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, a small vertical coin return tab 96 is seen protruding through an orifice in plate 10. Tab 96 is rigidly attached to, or integral with flange 44 and is so positioned as to cause tab 96 to fit into a recess 100 out in housing 12 when the coin handling release mechanism is attached to the vending machine. The recess 100 is seen in FIG. 12. Coin return knob 20 is rotatable in bushing 101 and is firmly attached to a coin return lever arm 99, which engages tab 96 when positioned on the vending machine.

In the normal operation of the invention, the merchandise to be vended is placed in chamber 14 while the vending door is held open. When the handle 15 is let loose, the door is automatically closed by spring 22 (see FIG. 12) thereby blocking access to vending chamber 14. Latch 30 enters orifice 105 in the housing 12, as shown in FIG. 1. Therein latch 30 engages the leading edge of barb 29 (see FIG. 6) causing latch 30 to be depressed onto the cammed surface of arm 93 and likewise depressing said arm. When latch 30 is sufficiently far into orifice 105, the slot in latch 30 engages barb 29 allowing latch 30 to again rise under the combined influence of spring 22 and arm 93. Then as latch 30 progresses further rearward, it comes into contact with appendage 97, as seen in FIG. 12, driving arm 96 rearward and free of Wall 42. Door 15 is now closed and locked by barb 29.

Now, when a purchaser inserts a coin into coin receiving slot 11 (FIG. 10), the coin rolls along a spacer bar (not shown), and impinges on coin traffic seesaw 72 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). If the coin is a quarter or a nickel; half dollars will not pass through slot 11, said coin will be cradled 6 between the inward protrusions of seesaw 72 thereby causing seesaw 77 to rotate clockwise about pin 69 under the weight of said coin. After it rotates sufficiently, it will drop said coin directly into coin stacking channel 80. However, if the coin has a diameter and weight less than that of a nickel it will pass between the protrusion coin traflic seesaw 72, roll along a second spacer bar, (not shown) and impinge on penny and slug rejector seesaw 74. If said coin has a diameter greater than a dime, such as a penny, it will not pass through rejector seesaw 74 but instead will be cradled by the protrusions of rejector seesaw 74. The weight of the cradled coin will rotate the rejector and then the rejector will drop the coin onto deflector surface 77 to be deflected into coin return bin 18.

However, if the coin has the diameter and weight of a dime, it will pass directly through the protrusion of seesaw rejector 74 and drop into channel 78 (see FIGS. 5 and 6), where it travels into coin stacking channel 80'.

From FIGS. 1, 7 and 8, it can be seen, that as said coins fall into coin stacking channel 80, they strike the slanted edges of the several coin restrainers momentarily flipping said restrainers outwardly. The coins also strike the beveled edges of channel width adapters 52 and 53 causing them to be slightly deflected outwardly. The coins then come to rest on latch 30 which blocks the lower portion of coin stacking channel 80. Adapters 52 and 53 conform the width of coin stacking channel 80 to the width of the coins therein eliminating the tendency of the coins to shingle.

Now when handle 15 is pulled outward, in a vending door unlocking motion, the cam 30a of latch 30 lifts the stacked coins in channel 80. If the coin or coins in said channel are of a combination which have the combined diameters equal to the spacing of any of the coin restraining levers, 50, 57 or 89, they will be prevented from rising by said levers thereby transferring the lifting force on said coins into a depressing force on latch 30. Latch 30 then rotates about pin 32 freeing said latch 30 from barb 29 thereby allowing handle 15 to be opened. When latch 30 is withdrawn from the lower opening of channel 80 by the opening of door 15, all coins therein drop into coin receiving bin 16.

When latch 30 is moved forward, it disengages from appendage 97 allowing arm 96 to move forward and engage the right side of foundation wall 42. Also as latch 30 is moved forward, it disengages from the cammed surface of arm 93 allowing said arm to rise, thereby surface 95 is brought into contact with the lower edge of adapters 53 overcoming the counter weighting of said adapters and thereby widening channel 80 to facilitate the issue of coins therefrom.

As discussed above and with particular reference to FIG. 7, it can be seen that when the lower coin restrainers 57a and b, on restrainer array supporting mounting 55 are set to operate (by lowering coin restrainer selector slide 56) they will restrain the upward movement of one dime and two nickels totaling 10- respectively and the latch 30 will open. When the two lower restrainers 57a and b are deactivated the upper two levers will then operate on one dime and three nickels or five nickels, totaling 25 and in a similar fashion, latch 30 will open. Restrainer 89 (FIG. 6) will operate on a quarter, unless clip has been used to deactivate restrainer 89. Thus, the apparatus may be adjusted to vend for 10 or 25 (as for a daily vs. a Sunday newspaper) by the simple vertical manipulation of slide 56. Obviously, provision could be made for other combinations of coins of greater or lesser denominations or for coins of foreign denomination where the machine is used in countries other than the United States.

But more unique is the fact that the apparatus of this invention will function on combinations of nickels and dimes, and with only one coin stacking channel. Such is possible because of the highly novel provision of channel width adapters 52 and 53. The dimes and nickels can be intermixed in any fashion and the adapters will insure that no shingling occurs. The operation of the apparatus to eifect such, is best described by reference to FIG. 7. It is seen here that a nickel followed by two dimes has been inserted within channel 80, channel width adapter 52 provides lateral support for the two dimes, even though the nickel below has forced channel adapter 53 to provide suflicient channel width to allow the nickel to move downward and come to rest on the latch. Normally a channel wide enough to permit the passage of a nickel, would be too wide for stacking dimes and shingling would occur. In this situation, channel adapter 52 narrows that portion of the channel occupied by the two dimes and prevents shingling. In a situation where the dimes are below the nickel, channel width adapter 53 provides lateral support for the dimes.

In such situation, when handle is pulled, latch cams the nickel and 2 dimes upward but nickel and 2 dime restrainer 50 restrains such. It should be evident that since adapters 52 and 53 are only counterweighted the restraining force exerted by restrainer 50 could counteract the lateral support force of the adapters and the coins could shingle. However restrainer 50 is rocked counterclockwise on pivot pin 48 in response to the upward movement of the coins pressing against the innermost leg portion of 50 that is entered into stacking channel 80, thus the outermost leg of restrainer 50 comes in contact with lock arm 120 of channel width adapter 53, locking the adapter in normal position.

Various combinations, of locking the channel width adapters by the coin restrainers, will be required to accommodate the numerous possible coin combinations.

From FIG. 2, it will be noted that the machine of this invention may also have provision for a vending price of By removing the dime and nickel restrainer array 57 and deactivating quarter restrainer 89 (FIG. 6) the machine can be easily altered to vend for 35. Furthermore, it will detect differences between the combinations of a quarter and a dime, or the combination of 2 nickels (these two combinations have similar combined diameter).

Referring to FIG. 2, the insertion of a quarter (25) for a 35 sale will cam quarter detector 106, pivoted on pin 107, counterclockwise. This will free 35 restrainer governor 108 whereby 35 restrainer 110 pivots by its own weight counterclockwise (see FIG. 3). In so pivoting, its coin engaging finger 112 enters coin stacking channel 80 to enable restraining of the stacked array of coins (one quarter and one dime) totaling 35.

Obviously, the repositioning of the various restrainers and associated mechanisms will enable other combinations of coins to be effective in causing latch 30 to open. The wide versatility of this machine should be evident to the reader.

And overriding all the above desirable features is the fact that, in all instances, an improper coin combination or a bent coin, if inserted, can be removed by merely turning knob 20 (FIG. 12). Such action causes lever 100 to contact tab 96 rotating wall 42 and flanges 43 and 44 about bolt 40, in a counterclockwise manner when viewed from the rear. Such rotation (as best seen in FIG. 8) positions the lower end of channel 80 above coin return bin 18. The rotation also causes linkage 68 to cam upward on edge 66 forcing chute wall 64 to rotate about shaft 63 widening the bimodal coin chute. As chute Wall 64 moves horizontally away from wall 62, it comes into contact with the right wall of stacking channel 80 whereby bracket 82 is forced to pivot about shaft 84 thus also widening channel 80 to facilitate the issue of coins therefrom. When knob 20 is released, the release mechanism is returned to its normal position by a bias spring 120.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efliciently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Now that the invention has been described, what is claimed is:

1. In a coin vending apparatus adapted to be operated by a plurality of coins of the same or different denominations containing a coin stacking channel adapted to receive a plurality of coins for totalizing the value of coins therein via their diameters, said channel of sufiicient size to permit coins of various denominations and diameters to be inserted therein in any sequence regardless of their denomination, and coin restrainers for detecting said diameters, pivotable channel width adapters in engagement with said channel, movable to provide lateral support to individual coins irrespective of their thickness located in said channel, whereby shingling of coins in the channel is avoided.

2. In a vending mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus has a foundation wall upon which said channel width adapters are pivoted, a finger element of each of said adapters forming a portion of one wall of said coin stacking channel.

3. In a vending mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein said adapters are normally biased in a manner wherein said finger element is continuously directed toward said wall of said channel.

4. In a vending mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein when coins of the predetermined value to operate the machine are stacked in the stacking channel, at least one coin restrainer will lock said adapters against coins stacked in said channel during operation of the vending apparatus.

5. In a vending mechanism as claimed in claim 4, including a coin return mechanism comprising means to pivot the walls of said channel outwardly with respect to each other and a coin return chute engageable with said channel when the walls of said channel are pivoted outwardly.

6. In a vending mechanism as claimed in claim 5, wherein said coin return mechanism includes a coin stacking channel pivot means, a cam associated with said channel to pivot the walls of said channel outwardly when said channel is pivoted and said coin return chute becomes located beneath said channel when said channel is pivoted.

7. In a vending mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein said coin restrainers for detecting said diameters are mounted on a single suppolt mounting, said mounting being adjustable to cause engagement and disengagement of pre-selected coin restrainers with said coin stacking channel.

8. In a vending mechanism as claimed in claim 7, wherein additional coin restrainers other than said restrainers on said single support mounting are provided for broader coin totaling.

9. In a vending mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operation of at least one of said restrainers is controlled by a coin detector, said detector being pivoted and positioned on said apparatus to detect the diameter of the desired coin, thereby pivoting and allow said restrainer to become activated.

10. In a vending mechanism as claimed in claim 9, wherein said coin detector and said restrainer are pivoted on a base wall with a pivotable governor operatively connected between said detector and said restrainer.

11. A coin operated mechanism including a single coin entrance slot of such size as to receive coins of various denomiations, a coin stacking channel structure receiving coins from the coin slot, adapters operable to vary the width of the coin stacking channel in accordance with the thickness of the coin at any stoppage point of the coin in the stacking channel, whereby coins of different denominations may be held in any uniform or staggered sequence in the stacking channel and thus eliminating shingling of coins in the stacking channel.

12. A coin operated mechanism as claimed in claim 11, including locking latches for locking the adapters in their channel width limiting positions.

13. A coin controlled operating mechanism as claimed in claim 11, including restraining means for restraining the coins in their stacked position in the stacking channel, and selective means for engagement with any predetermined singular or combination of coin restrainers, Whereby the coin handling mechanism can be set to totalize various stacks of coins before acting to release the vending door latch.

14. A coin controlled operating mechanism, as claimed in claim 13, wherein when coins of the predetermined value to operate the machine are stacked in the stacking channel, at least one coin restrainer will lock the coins stacked in the channel in position during operation of the vending apparatus.

15. I a coin operated vending machine, a housing, said housing having a single coin receiving slot for receiving coins of various sizes and denominations, latch means controlling the dispensing of the articles to be dispensed, a coin stacking channel, means for delivering coins from said slot to said coin stacking channel, means interposed in said last named means for discarding unwanted coins and slugs to prevent entrance thereof into the coin stacking channel, said coin stacking channel constructed and arranged to receive a plurality of coins of different denominations and size to the accumulative value of the article to be dispensed, restraining means for holding the coins in stacked position in the channel irrespective of the size or denomination until the accumulative value of the coins equals the cost of the article to be dispensed, means for regulating the width of the portions of the channel in which the coins are restrained to substantially the width of the respective coins to prevent shingling of the coins, latch means for locking the coins in stacked position in the channel when coins of the desired value are restrained in the channel, and means for moving the stacked coins to operate said latch means to dispense an article from the vending machine.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,629,211 5/ 1927 Giambra. 2,23 0,566 2/ 1941 Hakanson 194l02 X 2,853,174 9/1958 Grenier et al. 194-54 STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Primary Examiner 

